MARCHENKO: “The match against Krutykh was very important, many have already written me off”

Ukrainian tennis player Ilya Marchenko On behalf of Sport.ua, he commented on his confident victory over compatriot Alexei Krutykh at the start of the match in Hamburg, and also shared his general opinion about the competition and tournament prospects.

– How important was the match you will play with your former national teammate and young comrade?

– Of course the match was important. Many have already written me off but I’m actually still playing well. If it weren’t for my knee, I’d probably make more noise. But we have what we have.

– How did you manage to win so easily?

– Experience and tactics. It was obvious that Alexey was nervous at first, and judging by the way the game was going, it looked like he had nothing to gain. Apparently he didn’t expect me to play against him today.

– What are these cosmic points earned in service?

– Hall, it’s definitely easier to serve. I’ve been on a pretty high for the last few weeks, so this is nothing new.

– How do you feel in general and what are your expectations from the tournament in Hamburg? What about the organization of the Germans?

– The composition is quite even. I can beat basically anyone. It all depends on how prepared I am on a particular day. The worst thing is that there is also a women’s tournament: there is not enough space and there are too many players. “Overall there is a solid average among the Challengers,” Marchenko said.

In the next round, Marchenko will fight Sasi Kumar Mukund (No. 447 ATP) or Altuğ Djelikbilek (No. 295 ATP).